Remarkable Creatures

Remarkable Creatures
By Tracy Chevalier
Dutton, 2010. 312 pages. Fiction

Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl with a Pearl Earring, bases her new novel on the lives of two real women involved in the discovery of dinosaur fossils during the early 19th century on the beaches of Lyme-Regis, England. The story covers two main topics; how the discovery of extinct animals sent tremors through the scientific and religious worlds because of the question about the age of the earth, and the scandal that women might be involved in discovering these fossils.

Mary Anning is a young, working class girl who follows in her father’s footsteps after he dies to collect small sea creature fossils to help supplement their tiny income. Mary seems to have a unique gift. She has “the eye” for finding fossils.

Elizabeth Philpot is one of three middle-class spinster sisters who have moved from London to Lyme-Regis. Elizabeth shares Mary’s passion for finding fossils. Because of this, Mary and Elizabeth strike up a friendship, but their relationship proves to be rocky when Mary falls in love with a man far above her station in life.

I found this to be an interesting and immensely readable account of a fascinating period in our history. The characters were complex and alive. I would highly recommend reading this book.

AJ